December 2006 PASTORAL MEETING MINUTES

PASTORAL MEETING MINUTES

December

ST. MICHAEL'S PASTORAL COUNCIL MEETING
Meeting Date: 12/6/06 Time: 7:00 p.m.
President: Denny Moore, President Recording Secretary: Kelly Garofalo
DISTRIBUTION AND ATTENDEE LIST:

X George Bardsley
X Kathie Blanchard
X Martha Brodsky
E Ted Burkhardt *
X Bob Clark
X Dave Daigle
X Don D'Valle
Anna Esposito *
X Gary Fulmer
E Mary Fulmer *
X Kelly Garofalo
E Amy Kulesa *
Jack Lawler, Jr.
X Jim Lilley
X Regina Long
X Dennis Moore
X Amy Myers *
Jim Myers *
X Kim Myers
E Barbara Riley
X Father Mike Ruane
E Nanci Santiago
X Guest: Deacon Charlie Hiebler
X Guest: Mary Ann Gehle - Parish Development Chairperson
* Non-Voting Staff Member or Committee Chair

TONIGHT'S AGENDA AND MINUTES

Opening

President Denny Moore opened the meeting.

Kathie Blanchard offered the prayer

The November minutes (Appendix A) approved as amended.

Pastor's Report - none

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Amy Myers presented the 11/6/06 Liturgical Committee Meeting Minutes (Appendix B). Discussion was focused on the backdrop update. Charlie Hiebler suggested the following:

a. Set guidelines the church would accept (verify church documents on specifications, determine budget, backdrop should compliment to the altar not take away, design proposal with 3 different options, and determine beforehand if tabernacle will affect the backdrop design).
b. Form a committee
c. Give a "due date" for the proposals as well as project completion
d. Approval from Pastor & Archdiocese
e. Move forward by due date
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Lengthy discussion where the tabernacle should be located to show more reverence.

Gary Fulmer asked/commented if the church has ever considered moving the tabernacle behind the altar, possibly more visible.

Charlie inquired & learned it was a deliberate Vatican II decision & Archdiocese recommended it stay where it currently is.

Amy Myers suggested we explain (educate) to the congregation why we show proper reverence to the tabernacle.

Dave Daigle asked if the tabernacle, backdrop & need to increase reverence were separate issues.

Father Mike feels we should read the churches Principals & Guidelines before we move forward on further discussions.

Denny Moore proposed a vote by the committee to determine if "moving the tabernacle"; "moving forward with the back drop" & "increasing reverence" should be separate or combined issues. The majority vote was in favor of keeping them as separate issues.

Charlie Hiebler distributed "2006-2007 Goals & Objectives" Worksheet (Appendix C). Council split up into small groups & discussed important points for each objective.

1. Increase Unified Reverence Before, During & After Mass
Liturgical Minute - Pastor speaks for 1 minute before beginning mass where a particular emphasis is needed (Bob Clark agreed to check with Mnsr. Amato at Our Lady of Grace Church and Martha Brodsky agreed to speak with Kevin Farmer; both Fr. Amato & Kevin Farmer are familiar Liturgical Minute at their church)
Educate the parishioners (periodic pulpit presentations, emphasize in Religious Education / RCIA Classes, print Liturgical Minute in the bulletin)
Define Problem (some kneel, some stand during consecration, loud talking before/after mass, disruptions during the mass)
Research what other parishes do to focus on unified reverence
Explain the churches position on kneelers
Lead by example (all ministries, i.e. bow at consecration, genuflect)
Quick start guide on reverence

2. Increase Volunteers & Participation
Empower volunteers
Provide Clarity/Needs from Committee Leaders
Solicit ideas (same volunteers - same ideas. New volunteers bring new ideas)
Network (monthly breakfast, before/after masses, bingo)
Advertise Needs (i.e., in bulletin, on bulletin boards, adult classes, religious ed classes)
Make face to face contact with volunteers. Ask why they volunteer or why they don't.
Time & Talent Speakers (identify those with talents/gifts to offer)
Ask parishioners to see themselves as "church" & take ownership
Contact new parishioners & encourage them to volunteer

3. Improve Parish Communication
Suggestion box comments/responses listed in bulletin
Respond quickly to questions/comments/concerns
Communicate with different committees ("Help Us Help You" determine needs, weaknesses, strengths)
Respond to new parishioners. Welcome & encourage them to get involved.
Make suggestion box mobile (bring into meetings, groups, classes, functions). Make more visible.

4. Develop proposal for remodeling area behind altar
Talked in great length about this earlier in meeting. Agreed to move on.

5. Develop better understanding of church budget & finance
Provide quarterly or semi-annually updates to Parish Council and parishioners (during mass, bulletin)
Make churches needs known (goals, targets / obstacles)

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Round Robin

Mary Ann Gehle, Parish Development Chairperson - Passed out "Growing in Faith Together (GIFT)" material (Appendix D) that was distributed to the parishioners in 2003. The material included the Needs for the Future, Highlights of the New Facility Project, Organizations/activities that will Benefit from the New Facility, Our Challenge ($3,000,000), sketch of the new facility, and Pledge Campaign. Mary Ann invited the Parish Council to take home and read through the material again. Very informative.

Nancy Santiago - Harbey is looking for volunteers to practice baptisms and marriage ceremonies during his studies. Please contact Harbey if you are available to do so.

Prayer in remembrance of the 65th anniversary of Pearl Harbor, for those who lost their lives and the family members they left behind.

Request was made to play more Christmas music during Advent.

Request to keep the fans off during mass. The blades tend to cast a shadow on the missals and make it difficult to follow along.

Closing

Charlie Heibler led the closing prayer.

The 12/6/2006 meeting was adjourned at 9:30.

Kelly Garofalo - Pastoral Council Recording Secretary

Action Items Create Date Action Item Status 12/6/06 Bob Clark to check w/Mnsr. Amato on Liturgical Minute completed 12/6/06 Martha Brodsky to check w/ Kevin Farmer on Liturgical Minute ongoing 11/8/06 Denny Moore to include Suggestion Box notice in Sunday Bulletin ongoing 11/8/06 Dave Daigle continuing to comprise numbers for mass attendants to review with last years numbers. onging 11/8/06 Finance committee will update Church's financial status at upcoming masses completed 11/8/06 Barbara Riley to follow-up with Anna regarding altar backdrop status ongoing 10/4/06 The executive committee will explore the issue of reverence and possible actions that may be taken to educate the parish on the subject. ongoing 10/4/06 Follow up on "none or poor" and "could do better" items on the Pastoral Council Assessment. completed 8/2/06 Jack Lawler will call the committees who have not contacted the Council with reports. 8/2/06 Denny Moore will contribute an item to the newsletter. 8/2/06 Denny Moore will ensure that the budget review becomes a quarterly agenda item Ongoing 8/2/06 Denny Moore will contact Martha Brodsky about coordinating the September 2006 Council elections. Completed 4/5/06 Barbara Riley will call Bob Clark. Completed 3/8/06 Denny Moore will conduct follow up review with Father Mike and ensure that items appear in the newsletter. Completed 3/8/06 Denny Moore will finalize objectives with Father Mike. Completed 3/8/06 Barbara Riley will contact Bob Clark regarding Parish Council service. Completed - Email sent 3/19/06. 2/3/06 Dave Daigle will email Denny Moore with any questions regarding the mass time subcommittee just formed. Completed 12/7/05 Father Mike will talk to the Knights about removing reserved signs on pews that are not occupied by their members during the special Masses that they attend. Completed 11/2/05 Keep a running track of Council questions in a separate Q & A document. Ongoing 11/2/05 Prepare an appreciation card for the Schwarz family for their efforts on the recent Children's Halloween party. Completed 9/7/05 Mary Beth will call Tom Murray to take pictures of the new Council, at the next meeting Completed 8/3/05 Ted Burkhardt and Julie Landsman will confer to discuss how to present the youth services section of the Welcoming Booklet and will give their feedback to George Bardsley Completed 5/4/05 Ask Connie Bly to run a notice in the bulletin to educate the Parishioners as to the cost to the Parish of the Catholic Review. Completed 5/4/05 Add action items back and retain for a year. Completed 3/2/05 Steve Miller will ask for a Knights' vote as to whether they will spearhead Parish Picnic efforts Completed - The Knights will not be able to do this due to the fact that they have other commitments, at that time. 2/3/05 Recruit replacements for Bob and Jamie Prestel for the Welcoming Committee. Completed - 2 volunteers 2/3/05 Recruit volunteers to increase sponsorship of the Parish Newsletter. Completed 2/3/05 Check into arranging a Medivac chopper demo for the Parish Picnic. Completed-Full Police Display arranged. 2/3/05 Solicit recommendations for entertainment for the Parish Picnic. Completed - Picnic Plans suspended. 2/3/05 Examine solutions for the lack of coverage for the Blessed Sacrament exposition Completed - First Fridays 2/3/05 Recruit replacement for Barbara Clagett, Library Board Chairperson Communication Program

Create Date	Item	Submitter	Follow-Up
3-8-06	Expand CCD to teach more	Denny Moore
3-8-06	Edit or delete prayer of the faithful messages that may be offensive.	Denny Moore
3-8-06	Move the tabernacle from the side to the sanctuary.	Denny Moore
3-8-06	Offer coffee and fellowship gatherings after all Masses.	Denny Moore
3-8-06	Update the website more often	Denny Moore
3-8-06	Communicate Mass and religious ed cancellations more effectively.	Denny Moore
3-8-06	Offer preschool in the new wing	Denny Moore
3-8-06	Need a bigger church	Denny Moore
3-8-06	Holy Water requested at the side entrances/exits.	Kim Snyder
2-1-06	Less confusion about First Penance and First Communion.	Denny Moore
2-1-06	Move the tabernacle behind the altar; shows more respect.	Kim Myers
2-1-06	Need kneelers.	Denny Moore, Kim Myers
2-1-06	The atrium is for conversation before and after Mass not for services. Silence should be respected before Mass.	Kim Myers	The 6/3/06 newsletter contained an article encouraging silence before the Mass.
2-1-06	Why should I volunteer when I perceive that I won't make a difference because the Church will continue to operate the way it has in the past	Dave Daigle, Denny Moore
2-1-06	Will the Parish hold a picnic, this year?	Nanci Santiago
2-1-06	Music too dynamic for a funeral.	Don D'Valle
2-1-06	Need more acoustical tiles for the gym	Don D'Valle
2-1-06	Suggestion to include in the announcements a reminder to turn off the cell phones during Mass.	Jim Lilley
2-1-06	Parents should control disruptive children during Mass.	Jim Lilley
2-1-06	Mass at 10:00 is too crowded.	Ted Burkhardt	At the 5/3/06 meeting, a schedule change was approved.
2-1-06	Desire for youth Mass.	Ted Burkhardt
2-1-06	Do a survey for Mass time preferences	Barbara Riley	A committee was formed to study the issue and to propose alternatives.
2-1-06	Couldn't get through when they needed a priest for a family member in the hospital.	Noreen Christian